Leaks from your faucet and pipes are some of the biggest causes for water waste in your home, with the possibility of losing up to 20,000 gallons a year due to leaks alone. A leak in your faucet, shower or tub is fairly common and relatively easy to fix. However, this does not mean that it should be overlooked or postponed, as your home can lose 1,000 gallons of water from a slowly dripping faucet. Berk Trade & Business School offers plumbing and electrical courses for adults looking to break into this essential field. The technical institute has been educating students in New York City for more than 70 years and will help prepare you for a promising career.

Whether you have a leak from the faucet of your tub or sink, the first step in the repair process is to turn off your water. This will allow you to work without a geyser of water shooting out. You’ll also want to remove the knobs and handles, which is often the toughest part since corrosion has the capacity to weld the handle to the stem. If you use too much force, you could wind up breaking the handle or stem. It’s best to use a handle puller to safely expose the stem.

If all of the removed parts appear to be intact, inspect the rubber washers or the O-rings. Since both of these tend to wear out and occasionally need to be replaced, they could be the reason for your leak. Once you’ve replaced the problematic part, carefully reassemble the faucet. It’s good practice to photograph what the assembled parts look like before taking them apart. That way, you’ll have a reference that will ultimately help to make reassembly much quicker. For information on adult education for plumbing and electrician jobs, visit Berk Trade & Business School online.